# MEMEX - French Borscht [2021-07-05]

# French Borscht [2021-07-05]

I realize this may offend frenchmen and eastern europeans alike. That's fine, because it turned out alright. There can be peace.
Note that this is more of a sketch than an actual recipe. You will need to make flavor adjustments.
Simplicity: Intermediate
Meal: Dinner
Cooking time: 2+ hours
Health: It healthy for the soul
Servings: 6-8
Make sure you have 1 small pot, 1 large pot, and a frying pan available.

## Ingredients

### Mirepoix

- 1 large onion (chopped)
- 2 stalks of celery (chopped)
- 2 carrots (chopped)
- 1-2 tbsp tomato puree

### Stew base

- 1 glass of red wine, cooking wine is fine
- 2 vegetable bouillon cubes
- Water (1L / 4 cups)
- 1 bay leaf
- Fresh thyme (or dried, whatever)

### Mushrooms

- Button mushrooms (sliced)

### Root Vegetables

- 6 red beats cut into smaller pieces, or sliced
- 1 parsnip, sliced
- 1 parsley root, sliced (can also just use another parsnip)

### Meat

- Meat appropriate for a stew (400g, cut into mouth-pieces)
- Bacon, cubed (about 200g)

### Finisher

- Creme fraiche
- Balsamic vinegar
- Salt

## Instructions

- Pre-boil the beats in a separate pot

- Gently brown the mirepoix vegetables in a stock pot
- Add tomato puree and stir around
- When you start getting a brown residue at the bottom of the pot, add the stew base
- Bring to a slow boil

- Add root vegetables
- Sear the mushrooms at high heat to get rid of the liquid in them, then add to the stew
- Brown the meat in a skillet, salt and pepper, then add to the stew

- Let cook for as long as you have patience, but at least 60-90 minutes
- Top off with some more water if necessary
- It's done when the beats start getting soft and the meat is falling apart

- Add some creme fraiche

- Give it a taste, if it tastes overly sweet, add some balsamic vinegar
- If it tastes off or bland, add salt

## Topics

/topic/cooking.gmi